Empowering Partners and Spouses Through Recovery
We know that it can be incredibly difficult to witness your partner struggling with an eating disorder or a disordered relationship with food. These challenges can have tremendous impacts on your relationship and your mental wellbeing. We believe that partners and spouses deserve support too.
We aim to support and empower partners and spouses through their loved one's recovery journey. We provide information about eating disorders, skills for dealing with challenging emotions that may arise with your loved one, techniques for supporting your partner as they heal their relationship with food, and strategies to help deal with and/or prevent partner burn out.
Our entire team is trained in family-focused care, meaning that they understand the need to support family members as well as the affected individual. We take a strict no-blame approach to working with family members. We do not endorse the idea that partners or spouses can cause eating disorders, in fact, our philosophy is that, when properly equipped with knowledge and skills, partners and spouses can be tremendous assets in their loved one's recovery.
We use an empathic, non-blaming, non-judgemental and supportive approach with all the partners and spouses we work with.
Our Services for Partners and Spouses
One-on-One Support
Meal Support Program
One-on-One Support
Meet one-on-one with one of our team members to receive specialized support tailored to your specific situation.
Group Support
Meal Support Program
One-on-One Support
Participate in on of our groups for family members that aim to provide general information about eating disorders and general skills that can assist you to support your loved's ones recovery.
Meal Support Program
Meal Support Program
Meal Support Program
Eating differently is a very difficult task of recovery from an eating disorder and one that is even more difficult to face alone. We offer a personalized meal support program that is tailored to your loved one's specific recovery path and includes specific support from their spouse or partner.
Groups for Partners and Spouses
Eating Disorders 101
Description: Eating Disorders 101 is a recorded educational webinar designed to provide key information about eating disorders for friends, family, coaches, teachers, colleagues and the general public, in order to help build an informed and compassionate support system for those who are struggling with Eating Disorders or Disordered Eating. The webinar will cover the basics of what eating disorders are to clarify myths and misunderstandings, share what is helpful and what isn't and provide suggestions on how to support families impacted by eating disorders.
Format: Recorded educational webinar
Cost: $25
Recommended for: Anyone who knows a friend, family member, colleague, room-mate or student with an eating disorder or members of the general public who wish to learn more.
EmpowerED Caregiving
Description: EmpowerED Caregiving is a series of recordings. It aims to provide you with strategies for responding to your loved one's emotions. Based on Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), this workshop teaches communication skills to support the processing of emotions. Emotion Coaching is a tangible skill that can help you support your loved one's recovery, and repair trusting relationships. It will also provide the space and support your loved one's needs to find healthier ways to deal with anxiety, shame, anger and other challenging emotions that often accompany eating disorders.
Format: Recording. Can be watched as many times as needed for a six month period. Can also be shared within the family so all family members can have consistent communication.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Cost: $35
Who can purchase: Open to any caregivers of children/loved ones of any age.
Biology & the Eating Disorder
Description: This 6 week group focuses on learning the specific impacts of Eating Disorders on body systems (Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Neurological, Urinary, Skin), Electrolytes, Sleep, Stress and Refeeding.
When: March 4th through April 8th, 2025
Tuesdays 6-7:30pm
Where: Live, virtual via Zoom
Duration: 1.5 hours
Cost: $160 for six sessions
Size: Maximum 8 attendees
Who can attend: Open to individuals struggling with an Eating Disorder, supporting an individual with an Eating Disorder or anyone wanting to learn the biological impacts on the body.
Sign up online or by calling Alberta Wellness Center for Eating Disorders.
Meal Support Webinar
Description: This 1.5 hour, one time, workshop is focused on skills to assist individuals who currently or will be providing meal support for their loved one. Topics covered include validation, emotions around meals, providing structure at meal times and benefits of meal support.
The October 8th offering of this webinar will have a special focus on meal support around holidays and special occasions.
When: To Be Announced
Duration: 2 hours (6:00-8:00pm MST)
Where: Live virtual via Zoom
Cost: $50 for the first family member, $25 for each additional support person
Size: Maximum 8 families
Who can attend: Open to anyone who supports a friend or family member with an eating
disorder during meals and would like to learn more about how to support and encourage
during meal times.
Additional individualized meal plan support is available. Join the workshop or request
individual meal support through online booking or by calling Alberta Wellness Center for Eating Disorders.